COLUMBUS, OHIO (6/23/06)-The 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church is concluded, but the apostasy is not. While most of the time Bishops and Deputies at the convention talked about homosexuals, homosexuality, and the homosexual community, there were actually other topics that filled the title lines of resolutions. Of these, VirtueOnline has selected ten that range from strange to incomprehensible in the telling.

10. Resolution C040, "Support Biblical Literacy." Recognizing that the Bible has been used to justify oppression, the Episcopal Church "supports efforts to foster methods of biblical interpretation which do not lend support to oppressive systems." Presumably, the Bible is wrongly interpreted if it ever encourages feelings of guilt. http://gc2006.org/legislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=249&type=CURRENT

9. Resolution A123, "Reconciliation: Slavery and Racial Reconciliation." Expresses "regret" and apology for Episcopal Church "complicity" in slavery, launches church-wide inquiry into the extent of that complicity to be completed by 2008, and requests Presiding Bishop to call a church-wide Day of Repentance. http://gc2006.org/legislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=130&type=CURRENT

8. Resolution A127, "Reconciliation: Restorative Justice." Calls on each diocese to engage in "dialogue" about inequality through "storytelling about historical and present-day privilege and under-privilege," with a "strong call to focus on the history and legacy of slavery," and to report on the "truth and reconciliation processes" going on in each diocese at the 2009 General Convention. http://gc2006.org/legislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=134&type=CURRENT

7. Resolution A129, "Affirm Creation and Evolution." States "That the theory of evolution provides a fruitful and unifying scientific explanation for the emergence of life on earth. That many theological interpretations of origins can readily embrace an evolutionary outlook, and that an acceptance of evolution is entirely compatible with an authentic and living Christian faith." http://gc2006.org/legislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=136&type=CURRENT

6. Resolution D038 "Consent to the Election of the Rev. Canon Barry L. Beisner as Bishop Coadjutor of Northern California." Both houses overwhelmingly consented to Beisner's election despite a minority report from the Committee on the Consecration of Bishops citing Beisner's two divorces and three marriages as reason for denial of the post. http://gc2006.org/legislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=307&type=CURRENT

5. Resolution C011, "Church Responsibility in Reparations." Urges church-wide lobbying of Congress for slavery reparations. "Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention, affirming our commitments to become a transformed, anti-racist church and to work toward healing, reconciliation and a restoration of wholeness to the family of God, urge the Church at every level to call upon Congress and the American people to support legislation initiating study of and dialogue about the history and legacy of slavery in the United States and of proposals for monetary and non-monetary reparations to the descendants of the victims of slavery." http://gc2006.org/legislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=174&type=CURRENT

4. Resolution C001, Anti-Jewish Prejudice in Christian scriptures and Liturgical Texts. Condemns the Bible and liturgical materials as anti-Jewish documents; "Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention direct the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to collect and develop materials to assist members of the Church to address anti-Jewish prejudice expressed in and stirred by portions of Christian scriptures and liturgical texts, with suggestions for preaching, congregational education, and lectionary use, and to report to the 76th General Convention." http://gc2006.org/legislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=179&type=CURRENT

3. Resolution D031, "Budget Priorities." Identifies the first budget priority of the Episcopal Church during the next three years as "JUSTICE AND PEACE: Promoting justice and peace for all of God's creation and continuing and accelerating the leadership role and programs of the Episcopal Church, which support the eight (8) Millennium Development Goals* in the dioceses of the Episcopal Church and in the world." Evangelism is low on the list of priorities. http://gc2006.org/legislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=300&type=CURRENT

2. Resolution B023, "Response to Reported Decline." Given the church's failure to prioritize evangelism in the previous resolution, this resolution responds to allegations by the Joint Commission on Domestic Mission and Evangelism that the Episcopal Church "may be in systemic decline" by initiating "a national consultation on methods and strategies," launching a study of best practices, and presenting a report at the 2009 General Convention. http://gc2006.org/legislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=347&type=CURRENT

1. Resolution D043, "Mission Strategy." And since the church is without a mission at present, dialogue will begin on that topic with the goal of more dialogue at the next General Convention. "Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention strongly urge the Joint Standing Committee on Planning and Arrangements, in consultation with the Executive Council, to enable a participatory, vision focused dialogue on the Mission of the Church to take place during times dedicated to that purpose at the 76th General Convention; and be it further Resolved, That during the triennium, the Executive Council develop and implement a process that will enable the Church to prepare for the dialogue to be held during the 76th General Convention."